Sunjay Kapur: A Life of Business Acumen, Personal Challenges, and Enduring Legacy
Sunjay Kapur (15 October 1971 - 12 June 2025) was a prominent Indian multinational industrialist and billionaire, leaving behind a complex but inspiring legacy. He was known for his business acumen, personal challenges, and enduring impact on the automotive industry. Kapur's life was a tapestry of ambition, achievement, passion, and public intrigue, blending tradition and innovation.
Early Life and Education
Born on 15 October 1971 in Delhi to Rani Kapoor and Surinder Kapur, Sunjay was raised in a privileged environment. His father, Surinder Kapur, was a pioneer in India’s auto component industry and founded the Sona Group. From a young age, Sunjay was seen as someone who would take on the responsibility of leading the family business. He completed his schooling first from The Doon School in Dehradun and then from the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. Later, he moved overseas to study further, earning a BBA in Corporate Strategy and HR from London. He also completed prestigious executive courses at MIT and Harvard Business School, adding to his skills as a business leader.
Business Career
In 2003, Sunjay joined his father’s company and played a big part in helping it grow into a global name in the automotive world. After his father's death in 2015, Sanjay took over as the managing director. He later became the Chairman of Sona Comstar, headquartered in Gurugram. As Chairman of Sona Comstar, Sunjay Kapur oversaw the transformation of the company from a domestic auto parts manufacturer into a global technology player in drivetrain solutions, especially for electric vehicles. The company manufactures 12 products via nine factories, in India, China, Mexico, Serbia and the US. The company provides spare parts for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The company employs over 5,000 people in India, China, Mexico, Serbia and the United States. Under Sunjay, Sona Comstar expanded internationally with plants across India, USA, China, Mexico, and Serbia.
Kapur was also the chairperson of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA). He was on key leadership councils of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), influencing India’s automotive and industrial policy at the highest levels. As an American citizen, he was added to the list of the world's billionaires in 2022. Forbes estimated his net worth at the time of his death to be $1.2 billion (approximately ₹10,300 crore).
Personal Life
While Sunjay Kapur made his mark in the world of business, his personal life often gained the spotlight too.
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Marriages and Relationships
Sunjay Kapur's personal life was often in the public eye. His first marriage was to Delhi-based fashion designer Nandita Mahtani in 1996. They divorced in 2000.
In 2003, he married Hindi film actress Karisma Kapoor. The wedding was a grand affair, one of the biggest Bollywood had seen at the time. The couple had two children, daughter Samaira, born in 2005, and son Kiaan, born in 2011. After a long legal battle, Sanjay and Karisma officially separated in 2016. Their high‑profile marriage and divorce-including allegations of domestic abuse from Karisma-were extensively covered. Despite their separation, Sunjay and Karisma remained committed to co-parenting their children.
Kapur's third marriage was to Priya Sachdev in 2017. She had a daughter, Safira Chatwal, from her earlier marriage. They have a son Azarius.
Passion for Polo
Though Sunjay mostly lived a private life, one of his known passions was polo. He was often seen enjoying the sport, and his love for horses. Outside boardrooms, Kapur was an avid polo player and promoter of the sport. He believed polo should not be confined to elites and actively worked to increase its visibility and accessibility in India.
Philanthropy
An advocate for education and social responsibility, Kapur funded numerous CSR initiatives-women’s empowerment programs, rural education, and health drives.
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Death
Sunjay Kapur died on 12 June 2025 after collapsing during a polo match in England. He was 53. The Telegraph reported that he died suddenly after swallowing a bee while playing polo. His funeral was held on June 19. In light of this, Karisma Kapoor has traveled to Delhi with her children, Kian and Samaira.
Just hours prior to his demise, Kapur had expressed condolences on X for the victims of the June 12 Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad (India).
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